By NEDRA PICKLER
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Online law school applications will soon be usable by the blind under a court settlement obtained by the Justice Department.

The National Federation of the Blind had sued the Law School Admission Council, complaining that its online application service used by laws schools across the country wasn't compatible with screen readers the blind use to navigate the Internet.

The Justice Department got involved and announced April 26 that a settlement had been reached that will make the applications accessible for fall 2012 admissions.

The department also reached a related agreement with Atlanta's John Marshall Law School to modify its own website to let applicants know how to apply by telephone before the council's online application becomes fully accessible. The department is working with other law schools to reach similar agreements.